Protest against UK deaths in police custody

Once again, this year, like every year hundreds gathered for the annual march against deaths in police custody in Britain. Most of those here are family members who say they have lost loved ones at the hands of the police. Like the family of Sean Riggs who died on 21 August 2008. A 40-year old musician, he was arrested in the street by four officers and taken to a nearby police station. He was placed in a metal cage in the yard. 20 minutes later he was dead.

The annual event is now entering its 13-th year and every year the list of those who have died grows longer. Organizers were handing out posters with the names of 3,180 individuals since 1969. Sadly one of the latest to be added to that list was 48-year old Smiley Culture. He died from a single stab wound to the heart. His family were told he stabbed himself while making a cup of tea. His nephew Merlin was at the march.

Standing behind me are the many families who have lost loved ones, they say at the hands of police, they are ready to march on downing street demanding justice.

It’s been 42 years since a police officer has been prosecuted for the death of somebody in custody. That’s despite several verdicts of unlawful killings. The families of Ian Tomlinson, the newspaper vendor who died at the G-20 summit, and Jean Charles De Menezez who was killed by the police on the London underground were also here.

And so was the family of Mark Duggan. The latest man to be shot dead by police in Britain. His killing sparked riots across the country in August.

The sad reality is that these families will be here again next year. Even sadder is that there a new families who will be joining them.

About the author

Larry Fedja has been a volunteer with 4WardEver UK since it was set up. He assists with researching information and submitting them for inclusion on the website and other on-line resources developed by 4WardEver and its associate organisations.
4WardEver UK was launched in 2006 by Tippa Naphtali the cousin of Mikey Powell, who died in the custody of West Midlands police, Birmingham, UK in September 2003.